Jul 11, 2020 | Well being
Welcome to my Women to Women series where I interview guest speakers from around the world and share bits of their knowledge with you. I had the opportunity to interview a friend and fellow Wayfinder Coach Nancy McKay, who challenges us to explore our relationship with alcohol.
Nancy came to mind for the series when I saw a line outside of our state liquor store that to me, seemed a bit too long. Read on…
Lisa: Tell me about yourself and your outreach to women.
Nancy: I believe that you can’t be courageous without first being vulnerable.
I’ve been sober since March 14, 2009 and I’m an ovarian cancer survivor. Through the pain of these challenging and life changing events, I became acutely aware that life is short, and there was no time to lose to follow my dreams. I became a Certified Mind-Body-Eating Coach in 2018 and a Certified Wayfinder Life Coach in 2019.
I use my experience and my training to help women (primarily) and men who want to explore their relationship with alcohol. I work intently with my clients to challenge old beliefs and patterns and replace them with practices that empower them to achieve their desires around alcohol.
I host a weekly Facebook Live show (Thursday evenings, 5:15pm MDT), have a Facebook Group and write a blog, all with the same name: “Women & Alcohol”
Lisa: What was your turning point with alcohol and how did you become alcohol-free?
Nancy: I had a lot of warning signs along the way. I started getting curious and a little worried about my drinking 10 years or so before I quit. My last drink was on Friday, March 13, 2009. This was two years after my father committed suicide. I was wracked with guilt over his death and my drinking escalated greatly because of it. I quit because of my own suicide attempt forced me to see how desperate things had become. The gig was up.
Lisa: What are some of the things you do today to stay alcohol-free?
Nancy: Working with others who want to get and stay sober is part of my solution. I talk openly about my alcoholism and my passion and mission is to shatter the stigma that surrounds alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and addiction.
Lisa: How do you help other women who have a problem with alcohol?
Nancy; I use proven strategies, traditional methods and coaching tools to help women explore their relationship with alcohol. We uncover why they drink, what they’re thinking when they’re drinking, and what are the different results they want. It’s a process.
Lisa; How much is too much to drink? When do you know you have a problem?
Nancy: That’s a great question…it all depends. If negative things are happening in your life as a result of drinking, then that indicates that you’re drinking too much. Unfortunately, many people ignore the red flags.
Lisa: Many readers might have significant others who drink, do you work exclusively with women? Do you work with men?
Nancy: Yes, I work with men.
Lisa: What do you suggest to a woman if their significant other drinks?
Nancy: Set boundaries. Take care of yourself and your children. No one can change their spouse. We are only in control of ourselves. Al-Anon is a great resource for those who lives are affected by alcohol. If that isn’t a good fit, I have a coaching resource whose specialty is working with spouses, etc.
Lisa: What would you suggest to someone if they suspect they have a problem with alcohol? What is their first step?
Nancy: Recognizing that there is a problem is a huge step. If they think they have a problem, they probably do. Normal drinkers never wonder if they have a problem with alcohol. That being said, reaching out for help is the first step. Trying to do this on your own is very difficult. Of course, AA or rehab are the most traditional first steps, but many people don’t care for those options. People can work with therapists as well. Life/Recovery Coaches are probably the most effective and cost effective outside of AA, which is free. As a Certified Life Coach, I use a combination of my own experience, traditional recovery tools and extremely effective coaching tools to help my clients really dig into the reasons behind their drinking.
Lisa: What is the most exciting part of the work you do?
Nancy: When my clients hire me to be their guide on their journey of self-discovery and are willing to do the work that personal development demands, the transformation that takes place is amazing. Helping them to examine their thoughts and beliefs, witnessing their a-ha moments and watching them become empowered to change their lives is so rewarding.
Lisa: Who are your favorite influencers, bloggers, podcasters?
Nancy: My favorite authors in the recovery world are Laura McKowen (We Are the Luckiest), Annie Grace (This Naked Mind), and Holly Whitaker (Quit Like a Woman). Matt Salis is a friend who writes a great blog & is a podcaster (Sober and Unashamed).
Lisa: Tell me something about yourself that might be surprising.
Nancy: I’m a contributing author to Ready to Fly – Volume 3 (available through me at the moment – Amazon at a later date); Save July 22nd at 6pm MDT for our virtual launch party! I had my public speaking debut in March of this year. I loved it and hope to do a lot more of that in the future. In a former career I was a Kitchen & Bath Designer. I’m a weaver and I love needlepoint.
Thank you Nancy for taking the time for being vulnerable, share what you do, your life, and passion. Feel free to join Nancy for her Facebook group, Women & Alcohol for inquiry and support.
I am Lisa Jollimois. I am a personal development coach for women who want to transform their lives. If you need more support getting through this current crisis, contact me. Or if you need support naturally maintaining your weight, rewriting your story, exploring new possibilities for an empty nest, or feeling stuck. I can help act as a guide to get your life into action.
If this interests you or if you want to level-up your standard of life despite our current circumstances email me for your FREE discovery call at lisa@lisajollimois.com or sign up at https://calendly.com/lisa-365
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Big Hugs,
Jun 7, 2020 | Well being
Welcome to my Women to Women series where I interview guest speakers from around the world and share bits of their knowledge with you. I had the opportunity to interview Krista Cumming, a certified Sleep Science Coach. Krista gives us all hope that we can all sleep sound once again.
I thought the interview with Krista was well needed. I will be the first to admit, these uncertain and troubling times haven’t been the best for my sleep. Let’s start!
Lisa: Tell us more about yourself and your journey to becoming a sleep consultant.
Krista: I live outside of Toronto, Ontario. I have been married for 27 years and have two children, one son, and one daughter. I have been in the health and wellness field for over 30 years. I completed my bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, became a dental hygienist, a registered nutritional therapist, and a Certified Sleep Science Coach. I have helped many people achieve their specific health goals. I enjoy reading, taking long daily walks, and researching women’s health and hormones. I love to travel and look forward to being able to do this once again.
Lisa: If you feel like you had a “calling” to pursue this kind of work, what did that feel like for you?
Krista: I was a dental hygienist for over 27 years when I started getting the signs. You know, those “little feelings” that tell you that you need to make a change. I wished that these feelings would go away but they didn’t. I was content with my job. I liked my coworkers and my patients that I had developed a long-standing relationship with. But I kept getting these feelings that I should retire from my dental hygiene career and start an online business that would help middle-aged women fall asleep. Yes, I know, it sounds crazy! And it was for me too. I had heard friends, family members, and patients complain about how tired they were and how difficult it was for them to get a good night’s sleep. I too had had some sleep struggles which I figured out on my own. Was I meant to share what I learned? To be perfectly honest I didn’t make a decision right away. I am a practical person and weighed out the pros vs. cons too many times to count and really tried to convince myself why this would not be a good time to retire from a perfectly good job. But deep down I knew that was not the reason why I didn’t want to retire. It was because I was terrified. Fear was keeping me stuck. I finally had the much-needed conversation with myself and asked, if not now, when? I chose not to renew my dental hygiene license at registration time. I was 100% into helping midlife women fall asleep and stay asleep.
Lisa: What steps did you take to transition from one career to the next?
Krista: I transitioned to my new career by becoming certified in sleep science and researching everything I could find on sleep for midlife women. Through my research, I believed that many sleep struggles women faced were largely due to hormonal imbalances. I had been studying hormones on my own for years and understood how hormones and sleep are closely intertwined. I put all of my knowledge and learning into developing a sleep program specifically designed for midlife women. This program gives women the learning and action steps to be able to shift their hormones naturally, allowing sleep to come easier and be more restorative.
Lisa: What are the common complaints that women have regarding their sleep?
Krista: The most common complaints that midlife women face regarding their sleep are difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Some women find they are “wired but tired” and can’t fall asleep as their minds are racing and they can’t relax. Some women awake during the night between 1-3 am and can’t fall back to sleep, often for hours.
Lisa: How much sleep is enough sleep and when do we get the best sleep?
Krista: I recommend getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night. This will allow your body to receive all of the benefits of restorative sleep which are tremendous. My recommendation is to be in bed by 10 pm. I realize this may not be possible each night due to social obligations but use this as a guide. One of the most important things you can do to help your sleep is to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
Lisa: What are the primary causes of sleep disruption?
Krista: Sleep disruption can occur for a variety of reasons. High-stress hormones (cortisol), low melatonin, prescription medications, unstable blood sugar levels, pain, anxiety/depression, lack of sunlight, temperature changes, and fluctuating/declining estrogen and progesterone levels can all have an impact on our sleep.
Lisa: If you were to suggest one thing that we could all do to improve our sleep what would that be?
Krista: My one suggestion to everyone who wants to improve their sleep is to make it a bigger priority. In our modern world, most women are overcommitted and often have distractions. Sleep is an afterthought when everything else is completed. I think midlife is an opportunity to prioritize ourselves and really understand what we need and want and not be shy asking for it!
Lisa: Is sleep disruption or having difficulty falling asleep reversible?
Krista: Having difficulty falling asleep is absolutely reversible! Our bodies are designed to sleep throughout our entire lifespan. When hormones are balanced sleep will become easier to achieve and it will be more restorative. There are many things we can do daily to optimize our hormones to help us sleep, most are free and accessible to everyone.
Lisa: Who are the influencers, bloggers, and podcasters that you follow?
Krista: I follow a variety of people. Some are business-related, others are in the health and wellness space and some I find entertaining. I enjoy the Sheri and Nancy show (great podcast for midlife women), Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, Dr. Anna Cabecca, Amy Porterfield, Lori Kennedy, and Jenna Kutcher.
Lisa: Tell us something about yourself that we may not know.
Krista: I have decided to stop colouring my grey hair! I am in the early transition stage and it is not easy. It takes time and patience. I have coloured my hair for over 30 years and I must say it feels freeing to no longer do this. It is something I have considered for years and with the quarantine, in effect, it seemed like the perfect time to begin. Wish me luck!
Thank you Krista for taking this time to help us begin to understand some of the reasons for sleep disruption during midlife and for letting us know there is help. To learn more about Krista join her “I just want to sleep.” community on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/460599001250348/ Or email her directly for more information at krista@mymidlifementor.com
I am Lisa Jollimois. I am a personal development coach for women who want to transform their lives. If you need more support getting through this current crisis, contact me. Or if you need support naturally maintaining your weight, rewriting your story, exploring new possibilities for an empty nest, or feeling stuck. I can help act as a guide to get your life into action.
If this interests you or if you want to level-up your standard of life despite our current circumstances email me for your FREE discovery call at lisa@lisajollimois.com or sign up at https://calendly.com/lisa-365
Follow me on Facebook!
Follow me on Instagram!
Big Hugs,
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